RFID Lab participated at the conference RAIN in Action organized by RAIN Alliance.
The RFID industry together in Florence
In-depth workshops, speeches, meetings and networking. From the 23rd to the 25th of September, the RFID industry met in Florence to explore and discuss innovations, trends, opportunities and technological developments.
From automotive to retail and fashion, organizations form the most diverse industries shared the challenges they are currently facing, and the opportunities RFID technology offers.
Besides the continues requests for technological solutions that can help increase efficiency and lower operational costs, organizations are increasingly seeking solutions that enable sustainability and circularity.
Sustainability & DPP high on the agenda
With the DPP (Digital Product Passport) requirements approaching and the customers’ increasing requests for transparency and traceability, one of the main topics of the conference was RFID’s key role for sustainability.
Throughout the 3-day event, organizations and institutions shared and explained how RFID enables sustainability and circular economy and is the optimal data carrier for DPP. Prof. Rizzi shared the latest outcomes of the joint research between RFID Lab and Axia Lab of Michigan State University.
The international research determined how the application of RFID technology in the Healthcare and Pharma sector enables sustainability (tons of CO2 saved per year) when utilized to monitor and track packages of products or individual items throughout the supply chain. The greatest savings are obtained thanks to a reduction of shrinkage (product losses due to thefts and expired products) stock reduction (increased inventory accuracy reduces the need to carry safety stock) and transport reduction (because of less shipment errors as well as stock reduction).
Many companies are embracing RFID from a broader perspective, where deployments are valued not only from an economic but also from an environmental perspective. Therefore, the research program, presented by Prof. Rizzi, developed a tool – E-ROI – aimed at assessing the return on the environment of RFID projects.
As Prof. Rizzi puts it: “when you think of an RFID deployment, change your point of view: Not only for the money but for our one and only planet”.